blklab70

I want to add my thanks to our servicemen and women and all those who protect us. My son is a major in the Army and did one tour in Afghanstan. That is a hard time for them but a hard time on family too. Thanks for having our backs! Because of our freedom we can choose to take this journey with the lap band and I for one am grateful for all the small freedoms we have as well as the big freedoms. To all I say, stay safe!

So happy to have you join us. You are headed for a journey that is so wonderful and full of new adventures. We have to learn to eat again but more than that, we get to learn what it is like to live again and for me it is the best! I can run with my grandkids and look forward to Disneyland with them but this time I can keep up. Please keep us posted and do find the thread for July bandsters. You will need them as you go along. Best of Luck!

greytz, you said it all. That is exactly why we are here. I could not do this without the band and without the help of everyone. I have said this before and will say it forever, I wish I had done this before when I only had 100 to lose. We are all in this because we know the value of the band and we have all tried the diets and they have not worked for us for many reasons. To choose not to be banded is ok for some people, but I know this is my only hope and with the support of everyone here, I can do this this time around. Thanks for wording it so well.

Bashful, those are really beautiful, you are good! Maryrose, you plan and I will sing, I can sing! Really I can!!!

Didn't say anything was "wrong". They just have no clue.

Moochie, I am sorry you are going through that. You have come to the right place if anyone every needs support, you certainly get it here. I have found several people who I really trust and believe. One of them once said that nothing tastes as good as thin feels. I try to remember that. It has saved me on many occasions when I really wanted that sweet. I also had to find out what trigers that craving. So for me, it is pain and stress. If I have a headache or a hard case I am working on at work, then I want something sweet or high carb. I have to redirect that thought. I am not nearly as wise as some of the people here, but I am learning. Best of luck and know I am here for you.

No program fee here, and free support groups several times a week. I have insurance, so maybe self pay is different, but know the support groups are free.

I am so glad you found us! I was banded on 10 Feb 2009. I was lucky enough to find this site before I was banded and I got all my questions answered here. You will find there are so many really great people that are so willing to answer your questions. Glad to have you here and keep in touch!

Susan, I do some crafty things, or use to, but I too love my animals and spending time with them. We just got back from the dog park and two of them are sleeping next to me. I love taking them and they get so worn out they sleep all afternoon!!! Even the puppy is zonked out! LOL

RM, we are miles apart but our doctors sound the same. Mine said the exact same thing about eating. He would like to see me take 20 mins, three meals a day and no snacking. We are pretty much the same age and both at our sweet spot. There has to be something to be said about a good doctor! I do take your advice as gospel since you always give the best and I have learned I can depend on what you say. Malarky? I don't think so!

The first fill I don't think I felt till a couple weeks later. Then the second fill was tight at first but then nothing. This time I have been with the third fill for a week and it was good from the start and after a week it is still good. By golly, I think I got it!

Mine does the same, I lay down, he numbs the area and then takes everything out so he can see if I have a leak (I think that is why), then he puts it back with more. I then sit up and he gives me water to make sure I can drink it. Out the door I go. It is funny how everyone is just a little different.

I play the piano too, I just go put a CD in it and turn it on! I wish I had that talent to really play.

My boss who is near 400 said it was the easy way! LOL They have no idea that this is not in any way easy, it is a tool, just a tool. When I hear that I just laugh to myself and bruch it off as ignorance on their part. The hardest thing we humans have to do it ignore what people say. How cares? We have eachother here to share, cry, praise with. We don't need to take uneductated persons opinions! So, you go girl. It is a wonderful journey you are taking along with all of us here who are your friends on a mission!

Small world! We are just south of Morgan Hill, in the east foothills of Gilroy/San Martin. We love on a farm. I know the waiting the worst, but just keep in mind time goes fast. Keep your weight down, you can lose weight before your surgery to just help the doctor when he does your surgery. I have blue cross and they did cover my surgery. I had surgery in Burlingame. The hospital was over $40,000 but my cost was just $250. My doctor is covered completely except for the co-pay of $20. I hope you are working with your insurance now. Have you started all your pre-op counseling? I had to have three shrink appointments and two with the diet person. I had my insurance approval prior to starting everything. Why did they put you off so long for surgery? You will not be sorry, I wish I had done this sooner. I think what pushed me to go was someone in the office who is fat, fat, fat. She was talking like she was going to do something about her weight and I could not let her beat me since we weigh about the same (then). LOL Nice to meet you! I it is beautiful in CA today, in 70s. Going to Morgan Hill tomorrow for fireworks.

Welcome to you too, Bre's! Keep us posted and ask questions as you have them.

There is such a difference in the two procedures, I would not let her get to you. Remember, in the long run we end up the same and perhaps we are even better since our skin can shrink up as we lose. I am sure we have done it the best way for us. Thanks for letting me know I am not the only one with the ups and downs. I think the only way to cure my scale problem is to have hubby hide the scales! LOL

I have the same happen to me, but what I have found is I need to slow down, chew better and I am fine. I can eat about 3/4 -1 cup of food and I am completely happy. Slow down, I know when you are hungry that is hard to do and that is when I get that aweful pain. But I stop, let it pass then chew and take my time. It is always better at that point. I try not to let myself get that hungry that I am back to my old habit of gulping my food down. We are still new, we just have years of bad habits to adjust. Give yourself time to learn, eat slow and chew, chew, chew. I don't believe you need an unfil, but that is my opinion and only you and your doctor can determine that. Good luck!

My doctor took me off insulin just before my surgery and I have not gone back on it. I did lose well before being taken off insulin, I just ate it back on! I am now 55 pounds lost and my sugar in the morning is down to 124, still a little high but coming down with just pills and he has cut those down too. Good luck!

We live on a farm and raise Call Ducks, have horses and three labs. I love to be outside even if it is cleaning stalls! I don't do housework, so I clean outside. LOL If stuck in the house I knit baby blankets for Stanford Neo Unit. They are always needing blankets since every baby is given a blanket to keep. Need something to do? Look for how you can help in your community.

My doctor makes me drink water after each fill to make sure I am not too tight. I have a 10 cc band with 6 cc now. Everyone gets to their sweet spot different. I have reached my sweet spot with my last fill. Nothing being taken out to make it that way. I am pretty new at this, but that just does not sound right to me. Anyone with more experence that can reply?

I did a yahoo search on this even though I thought it was pretty silly. It is true, it is an exploding business! The band itself is not exploding, but the surgery is exploding in the number of people having the surgery. Thanks for a great thread and do know we are not laughing at you, but at the person who told you that.

I would find the best doctor I could, then travel to him/her. You could maybe find someone closer for fills, but the surgery I would want the best experenced doctor. Good luck, keep us posted. We are all here for you. Restless is awesome, gives great advise, you can ask them anything and you can take the advise as good.

Slim2be & Bigpapa, that is awesome! I am so very proud and happy for you. You are both doing so well and such an example to me. I am only 5 months into this, lost 55 so far. I find myself addicted to my scales, weighing everyday. I don't know if it is normal, but I will lose a few pounds then gain, then lose, then gain. When I am losing I am very motivated, but when I gain an oz well, I just freak! Can't wait for my 1 year and that 100 pound mark. Thanks for sharing!

Welcome Tory! You will find answers here to all our questions and concerns as you go along this journey. I know when I was starting out I came here often and found there are some people who are very helpful and some who just like to get you thinking about other ideas and current happenings. You will learn which people you can depend on and focus on them. I have a group of about 6 people that when they post I pay attention to them. Most of all, everyone here is for you and on your side. There is lots of support and any questions you have can be answered by several people with different views but all for the same cause. When I was finding myself always cold, well, I found out that is perfectly normal. The burps, the gas, well, all normal. So, just ask or read what has been posted. It is a wonderful journey with new friends to help you along the way. I am so glad I have done this and only regret that I did not do it sooner. Keep us posted on your progress!